Dr Japhet Mutegi Kiragu is a career educationist and Scientist. He first graduated as a biologist / Educationist (BEd (Science)) from the University of Nairobi in 1985. After a short stint in Education, he proceeded to read and diversify his career to a research scientist. This culminated in graduating in 1990 with a Master of Science Degree in Medical and Veterinary Entomology from the same University. He further proceeded to practice and read Entomology, and graduated with a PhD in Zoology from the University of Bristol (UK) in 1997. From then on, he has spent most time on scientific research. His research experience is on the behavior and ecology of disease vectors of medical and veterinary importance, with a view to developing and validating cost – effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable disease control technologies. His pet subject of research was on the tsetse fly, and African Animal trypanosomiasis. This largely involved behavioral and ecological studies of tsetse flies and their role in disease transmission, as well as developing and validating appropriate, environmentally friendly and cost – effective methods of tsetse control as part of trypanosomiasis management. He has facilitated registration of tsetse control products in Kenya. Vector eradication remains an integral part of disease elimination. Dr Kiragu trained on safe use of atomic energy and is a Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) expert. In this regard, he has worked as programme manager on a tsetse eradication programme for Lambwe Valley in Kenya. He rendered expertise on programme management, tsetse mass rearing, male sterilization using a gamma cell irradiator and field entomological monitoring. This programme was supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Currently, he has a mix of the two careers as a University lecturer in biological science and Scientific research. He also currently Chairs the Department of Biological Science.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Medical and Veterinary Entomology, behavior and ecology of disease vectors of medical and veterinary importance to develope and validate cost – effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable disease control technologies. Tsetse fly and African Animal trypanosomiasis which largely involves behavioral and ecological studies of tsetse flies and their role in disease transmission, as well as developing and validating appropriate, cost – effective methods of tsetse control as part of trypanosomiasis management. Facilitation of registration of tsetse control products in Kenya, safe use of atomic energy and Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) involving tsetse mass rearing, male sterilization using a gamma cell irradiator and field entomological monitoring.
PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER EXPERIENCE
November 2015 – Date
Chairman, Biological Sciences Department, Machakos University
Duties: Management of Academic programs dealing with all biological sciences
August 2015 – Date
Lecturer, Department of Biological Science, Machakos University
Duties – Teaching biological sciences
2010 – 2015
Senior Research Officer and Head of Vector Biology and Control Programme, KALRO
Career interest: Development of environmentally friendly and cost effective methods of control of vector borne diseases.
Duties
- Project coordination in the programme
- Research on control of vector borne diseases of medical and veterinary importance.
March 2000 –June 2013
Research Officer and Head of Entomology Division, Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute,
Duties: – Division Administration Manager,
– Research on management of tsetse fly populations.
– Safe use of atomic energy for insect pest population management.
1990 – 2000
Research Officer in Entomology Division, KETRI
Duties: Research on methodologies for control of tsetse flies, genus Glossina as an integral part of trypanosomiasis management
1985 – 1990
Graduate teacher of Biology and mathematics, Teachers Service commission, Stations: Kiambu High School and Kegonge Secondary School.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
August 2001
Certificate in Safe use of Atomic Energy, Institute of Nuclear Science, University of Nairobi
1995 – 1997
PhD in Zoology, University of Bristol, UK
1985 – 1990
MSc (Medical / Veterinary Entomology), University of Nairobi
1981- 1985
B.Ed.(SC) University of Nairobi (Kenyatta University College)
1979 – 1980
Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education, Nkubu High School
1975 – 1978
East African Certificate of Education, Chuka High School
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES/PROJECTS
2014 – 2015
Principal Investigator (PI). Testing the efficacy of Sypertix for the control of tsetse and trypanosomiasis in Kenya, KALRO / Noorbrook (K) Ltd.
2012 –2014
Principal Investigator (PI). Using an integrated approach for enhanced livestock health, production and productivity in Kenya. A new multi-disciplinary study. A Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
2012
Principal Investigator (PI). Testing the efficacy of Zero fly livestock fence for the control of tsetse and trypanosomiasis in Kenya / Vestergaard Frandsen
2011
Principal Investigator (PI). Tsetse infestation and livestock trypanosomiasis prevalence in Sera and Namunyak conservancies in Northern Kenya / Kenya Wildlife Service and Northern Rangeland Trust
2005 – 2010
Principal Investigator (PI). Tsetse infestation and population management in Meru National Park / Kenya Wildlife Service
2002 – 2014
Principal Investigator (PI). Integrated Area-wide tsetse and trypanosomiasis management in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya/ A Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
1990 – 1992
Principal Investigator (PI). Towards the success of community based tsetse and trypanosomiasis control in Kathekani, Kenya / Department of Foreign International Development (DFiD)
1992 – 1997
Principal Investigator (PI). Behavior and ecology of Glossina brevipalpis Newstead and its implication in the transmission of livestock trypanosomiasis in Kibwezi, Kenya (a PhD.D study) / British Council and Department of Foreign International Development (DFiD)
1990 – 1992
Principal Investigator (PI). Testing the efficacy of cypermethrin high cis pour-on insecticide formulation (EctoporR) for tsetse control in a high challenge area of Taru and Taita Ranches in the coast province of Kenya / Ciba Geigy (Kenya Swiss Chemical Company)
1986 – 1988
Principal Investigator (PI). Msc Thesis entitled ‘Resting sites and predation levels of adult Glossina pallidipes Austen in Nguruman, Kenya / National Council for Science and Technology and DAAD
CONSULTANCIES AND EXPERT MISSIONS
September 2019
Expert Resource person, African Union Pan African Training course on management of tsetse fly population, ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya.
April 2015
Community Trainer, Somali – tsetse and trypanosomiasis management To assist in management of wild tsetse population in Somalia. Consultancy report prepared for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC
December 2004
Expert Mission, To assist the Livestock Health Research Institute (ILRI), Uganda on tsetse mass rearing. Duty Station: Tororo, Uganda. Consultancy report prepared to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
October 2001
Expert Mission, To assist the Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, Tanga, United Republic of Tanzania with Initiation of Baseline Data collection of Glossina brevipalpis Newstead. Duty Stations: Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, Tanga and Mafia Island, United Republic of Tanzania. Consultancy report prepared to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
SELECTED TRAININGS /WORKSHOPS ATTENDED
17 – 28 September 2018
Resource Person (Entomologist) 9th African Union – Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (AU-PATTEC) – A training course for managers of tsetse and trypanosomiasis eradication programs in Africa, held at ICIPE, Kenya Centre,
19th February – 2nd April 2015
Trainer: Tsetse and trypanosomiasis management for Tsetse Control project field staff in Somali. Conducted for International Committee of the Red Cross, Dhobley, Somali
14 – 23 December 2013
Resource Person (Entomologist) 5th Africa Union – Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (AU-PATTEC) – A training course for managers of tsetse and trypanosomiasis eradication programmes in Africa, held at KARI – Typanosomiasis Research Centre
17 – 22 September 2012
Resource Person (Entomologist) Management of tsetse fly populations in conservation areas – A training course for Research Officers and Managers from the Kenya Wildlife Service held at KARI – Typanosomiasis Research Centre
30 -31st August 2012
Resource Person (Entomologist) Ensuring a Healthy Wildlife Ecosystem through Appropriate Tsetse Control Strategies in Conservation Areas. KWS Nairobi Safari Walk Conference Room
23 January– 3 February 2012
Resource Person (Entomologist) FAO/IAEA Regional Training Course on Standardized Collection and Processing of Tsetse Flies for Molecular Tsetse Population Genetic and Morphometric Analyses, Nairobi, Kenya
16th -27th June 2008
Resource Person (Entomologist) Training course on the Diagnosis and Management of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) for Primary Health Care Workers, Nairobi, Kenya. Supported by the World Health Organization
2005
Participant Safe use of Atomic Energy: Basic course on Radiation Protection and Safety (Certificate course). Institute of Nuclear Science, University of Nairobi
30th September – 4th October 2002
Participant Writing Competitive Grant Winning Proposals organized by Moi University, Kenya Forestry Research Institute and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, held at Eldoret
11th April – 17th May 2001
Participant Interregional FAO/IAEA Training course on the use of the Sterile Insect and related Techniques for the Area-wide management of insect pests. Organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the University of Florida. Gainesville, Florida, USA
5th – 7th of March 2018.
Participant: ESPA’s Professional Development Course (PDC) on Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation which will be held at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, from
August 2000
Participant Senior Management Course organized by Modern Management Institute at the Silver springs Hotel, Nairobi
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- JM Kiragu, G Murilla, J. Murage, G.Zivanovic, and JO Owago (20140. Recent advances in the use of insecticide – incorporated screens for trypanosomiasis management in zero grazing units. KVA scientific conference, 23-26th April 2014, Eldoret, Kenya
- Kiragu JM, Owago, J and Zivanovich G. (2013, forthcoming in September). A novel insecticide screen for tsetse control. ISCTRC, AU-IBAR, 127.
- Kiragu JM, Thande PC and Njue R (2011): Interactive trapping responses of Glossina brevipalpis Newstead and Glossina pallidipes austen in Kenya. ISCTRC, AU-IBAR, 126,351 – 359
- James Karuku Kibugu, Margaret Wanjiku Muchiri, Geoffrey Njuguna Ngae, Alfred mwatari Mumba, Japhet Mutegi Kiragu. 2010, Effects of Ethidium on female reproductive performance of laboratory reared tsetse flies, Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae), Acta tropica: 116, 157-160
- James Karuku Kibugu, James Ngugi Mwangi, Japhet Mutegi Kiragu, Margaret Wanjiku Muchiri, Kariuki Ndungu and Raymond Ellie Mdachi 2010. Improved survival of laboratory reared tsetse flies, Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) through use of homidium bromide-treated blood diet, International Journal of tropical insect science 30(3): 163-166
- JK Kibugu, JM Kiragu, AM Mumba, DM Mwangangi and MW Muchiri 2010. Improved protocol for aseptic collection and handling procedures of bovine blood diet in areas with special contamination challenges for use in tsetse rearing. Laboratory animals; 44 281-282
- JM Kiragu (2009): Trap entry responses of Glossina brevipalpis Newstead in Kenya, ISCTRC conference, Kampala, Uganda
- Japhet Kiragu, (2007). Ruma National Park, The gateway to Western Kenya. Farmers Pride Magazine, FarmView Media Service, 16-17, Nairobi
- Njiru ZK, Constantine CC, Guya S, Crowther J, Kiragu JM, Thompson RC, Davila AM. (2005). The use of ITS1 rDNA PCR in detecting pathogenic African trypanosomes. Journal of Parasitology Research
- JM Kiragu and Paul Ngare (2004). Is removal trapping appropriate technology for tsetse control? KVA Conference, Kisumu, May 2004
- Mathu Ndungu & Japhet M. Kiragu. (2004) Glossina as a Human and Agricultural problem in Africa. Presentation at a World Health Organization Experts Committee, Geneva, Switzerland, April 2004
- Catley, A., Irungu, P., Simiyu, K., Dadye, J. Mwakio, W., Kiragu J. and Nyamwaro, S.O. (2002). Participatory investigations of bovine trypanosomiasis in Tana River District, Kenya. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 16, 1-12
- Kibugu JK, Mwangi JN, Kiragu JM, Muchiri MW, Ndung’u K, Mdachi RE The efficacy of Triladly® 50% in cryopreservation of low concentration pathogenic trypanosomes. Journal of Protozoology Research 20, 27
POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS SUPERVISION
- 2015 – 2018 Truphena Wanja Kithaka – Efficacy of Sypertix spray for tsetse control in Kenya’ MSC Thesis, University of Nairobi. Thesis submitted, 2018. Graduated
- 2002 – 2005 Sylvance Okeyo Okoth: PhD Study ‘Infectivity of different sub populations of Glossina pallidipes to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in Kenya’, Kenyatta University, PhD awarded 2005
- 2002 – 2005 Daniel Ochieng Gamba, MSc study ‘Influence of age – category of wild Glossina Spp (Diptera: Glossinidae) on trypanosome species distribution and host preference at Nguruman, Kajiado district’, University of Nairobi, MSc awarded 2009
- 2008 Kinuthia Karen Wairimu, BSC Research Project ‘Efficacy of Tsetse tick pour – on for tsetse control. University of East Africa, Baraton.- Subject score B – Graduated
ACADEMIC /PROFESSIONAL REFEREES:
1. Prof. Adiel Micheni Magana
Chuka University
2. Dr. Judith Chemuliti
Centre Director
Biotechnology Research Institute – KALRO Muguga,
P. O Box 362,
KIKUYU 00902
3. Prof. Simon Karanja
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology,
P. O Box 62000
NAIROBI